Written Answers Tuesday 14 June 2005

Scottish Executive

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Care Commission has carried out one announced and one unannounced inspection of all care homes for the elderly in the last two years.

Rhona Brankin: The Care Commission Corporate Plan, which is approved by ministers, includes a target to inspect all registered services according to the requirements of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. The act requires care home services (of which care homes for older people are only one element) to be inspected at least twice each year, with at least one of these inspections being unannounced.

  During 2003-04, 99% of care homes had at least one inspection and 96% had two or more inspections. During 2004-05, 100% of care homes had at least one inspection and at least 99% had two or more inspections.

  Information on sub-categories within care service definitions is not collected centrally. I have asked Jacquie Roberts, the Chief Executive of the Care Commission to respond on the position on care homes for older people.

Crofting

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofters have received loans and grants towards (a) building and (b) improving their dwellings under the crofting house grant and loan schemes in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: The table below provides details of the grants and loans provided under Crofters Buildings and Grants Loan Scheme (CBGLS) (to December 2004) and Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS) (from January 2005). Of the 188 new houses and 18 house improvements supported in 2004-05, 95 and 10 respectively received grants under the new CHGS between January and March 2005.

  

Year 
 Total no. of Approvals


 New House
 House Improvement


 1999-2000
 84
 51


 2000-01
 191
 42


 2001-02
 97
 17


 2002-03
 100
 24


 2003-04
 115
 17


 2004-05
 188
 18

Dentistry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Statement of Dental Remuneration was last reviewed.

Rhona Brankin: The fees contained in the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) are uprated every year in light of the recommendation of the independent Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body. As part of the Action Plan to Improve Oral Health and Modernise NHS Dental Services in Scotland the Executive has undertaken to simplify the SDR, reducing the items of treatment from over 400 to around 50. This simplification is not about reducing what is available on the NHS, but making the whole system simpler for practices (and patients) to understand and use.

  The Executive has also introduced a number of new grants and allowances over the last few years. An Allowances Review Group has been established to look at whether these allowances are delivering and to recommend any changes. The group first met in November 2003 and continues to meet quarterly.

Dentistry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists have received funding through the Scottish Dental Access initiative in each year since it has been available, broken down by NHS board.

Rhona Brankin: Information on the number of grants under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) where the first tranche of grant has been paid in a calendar year is provided below. Due to the commercial sensitivity of the information and the need to respect the anonymity of the applicants, information on the SDAI cannot be provided on an individual NHS board basis.

  

 Year
 North1
 East2
 West3


 1998
 4
 1
 2


 1999
 3
 2
 8


 2000
 1
 4
 3


 2001
 0
 0
 0


 2002
 0
 1
 3


 2003
 2
 2
 4


 20044.
 0
 2
 5


 20055.
 0
 2
 11



  Notes:

  1. North comprises Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles NHS Boards.

  2. East comprises Borders, Fife, Forth Valley, Lothian and Tayside NHS Boards.

  3. West comprises Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire NHS Boards.

  4. A further four offers of grant have been accepted but the first payments have not yet been made.

  5. A further seven offers of grant have been accepted but the first payments have not yet been made.

Dentistry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what appraisal has been made of the Scottish Dental Access initiative.

Rhona Brankin: A revised Return to Work scheme under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) was introduced with effect from 1 April 2003. The funding available under the SDAI to help with establishing new or expanding existing NHS dental practices was doubled last year to reflect the increasing costs of establishing or extending practices. The Allowances Review Group, which the Executive established in 2003, has suggested additional ways in which the SDAI may be developed and these are currently being explored.

Dentistry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake has been of recruitment and retention incentives for dentists in each year since 2003, broken down by NHS board.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake of the "golden hello" scheme for dentists has been in each year since its inception.

Rhona Brankin: Information on uptake of the recruitment and retention allowances by general dental practitioners is provided in the following tables. Additionally, we introduced on 1 April 2004 an allowance for salaried dentists being employed by NHS boards within three months of completion of training and for those dentists being employed as salaried dentists, who are not already employed in the salaried services, by NHS boards. Information on the uptake of these allowances is not yet available.

  Allowance for Vocational Trainees Entering their Vocational Training Year in Scotland

  

 NHS Board Area
No. of Claims1. 2002-03
No. of Claims1. 2003-04
No. of Claims 2004-05


 Argyll and Clyde
 3
 4
 10


 Ayrshire and Arran
 -
 -
 5


 Borders
 5
 4
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2
 3
 3


 Fife
 -
 -
 8


 Forth Valley
 -
 -
 9


 Grampian
 8
 8
 12


 Greater Glasgow
 -
 -
 16


 Highland
 3
 3
 2


 Lanarkshire
 -
 -
 11


 Lothian
 -
 -
 27


 Orkney
 0
 1
 1


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0


 Tayside
 -
 -
 12


 Western Isles
 1
 1
 2


 Scotland
 22
 24
 123



  Source: Practitioner Services of NHS National Services Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Prior to 1 April 2004 the allowance was only payable to those dentists taking up their vocational training year in a designated area.

  2. A designated area is defined as the areas of Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles NHS Boards and, within the area of Argyll and Clyde NHS Board, Campbeltown, Dunoon, Lochgilphead, Lochgoilhead, Oban, Rothsay, Tarbert and the Isles of Mull, Iona, Colonsay, Tiree, Islay and Jura.

  Allowance for Dentists Having their Name Included in a Dental List Within Three Months of Completion of Training

  

 NHS Board Area
No. of Claims 2002-03
No. of Claims 2003-04
No. of Claims 2004-05


 Argyll and Clyde
 3
 8
 3


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 3


 Borders
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2
 1
 1


 Fife
 4
 6
 5


 Forth Valley
 0
 3
 7


 Grampian
 7
 1
 2


 Greater Glasgow
 8
 16
 16


 Highland
 0
 0
 1


 Lanarkshire
 6
 13
 11


 Lothian
 9
 3
 16


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0


 Tayside
 5
 4
 4


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0


 Scotland
 44
 55
 69



  Source: Practitioner Services of NHS National Services Scotland.

  Allowance for dentists having their name included in a dental list for the first time or on having their name re-included after a break of five years1.

  

 NHS Board Area
No. of Claims2004-05


 Argyll and Clyde
 1


 Ayrshire and Arran
 2


 Borders
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0


 Fife
 0


 Forth Valley
 0


 Grampian
 5


 Greater Glasgow
 6


 Highland
 2


 Lanarkshire
 0


 Lothian
 8


 Orkney
 0


 Shetland
 0


 Tayside
 3


 Western Isles
 0


 Scotland
 27



  Source: Practitioner Services of NHS National Services Scotland.

  Note: 1. This allowance was introduced on 1 April 2004.

Dentistry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how its Health Department communicates with general dental practitioners.

Rhona Brankin: The Health Department has a number of ways of communicating with general dental practitioners but the normal method is by a Memorandum to a PCA letter.

Dentistry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report on its consultation process on modernising dental services in Scotland will be published.

Rhona Brankin: I made a major policy statement in Parliament on 17 March announcing the publication of the Executive’s Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland. The Action Plan sets out the Executive’s response to the two consultation documents Towards Better Oral Health in Children and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland . The analysis of consultation responses for Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland was published last year.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available to dental practitioners to make their premises compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has provided £13.3 million over the last five financial years for dental practice improvements. Some of this funding has been targeted at improvements to address the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. A further £5 million in practice improvement funding will be provided in this financial year.

Education

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8994 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 22 August 2000, how many primary school classes of over 30 pupils in each local authority area have more than one full-time teacher.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is provided in the following table. The Education (Lower Primary Class sizes) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 establishes a class size maxima of 30 for P1-P3 classes. The class size maxima for P4-P7 is set out in teachers’ terms and conditions of service. These set a normal maximum of 33.

  Number of Single Stage Classes with More than 30 Pupils and More than One Teacher, September 2004

  

 Local Authority
 Number of Classes with More than 30 pupils
 Number of Classes with More than 30 Pupils and More than One Teacher


 Aberdeen City
 28
 0


 Aberdeenshire
 38
 3


 Angus
 32
 0


 Argyll and Bute
 9
 1


 Clackmannanshire
 25
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 32
 0


 Dundee City
 43
 4


 East Ayrshire
 41
 2


 East Dunbartonshire
 26
 1


 East Lothian
 15
 0


 East Renfrewshire
 52
 8


 Edinburgh, City of
 74
 1


 Eilean Siar
 1
 0


 Falkirk
 55
 4


 Fife
 93
 6


 Glasgow City
 140
 3


 Highland
 30
 1


 Inverclyde
 24
 2


 Midlothian
 18
 1


 Moray
 14
 2


 North Ayrshire
 41
 5


 North Lanarkshire
 81
 3


 Orkney Islands
 4
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 32
 7


 Renfrewshire
 53
 0


 Scottish Borders
 17
 6


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0


 South Ayrshire
 39
 1


 South Lanarkshire
 117
 12


 Stirling
 18
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 19
 1


 West Lothian
 69
 3


 Grant Aided
 8
 0



  The data was collected as part of the September 2004 school census.

Education

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the development officer responsible for outdoor education at Learning and Teaching Scotland has commenced employment and, if not, when the expected commencement date is and what the reasons are for any delay.

Peter Peacock: Learning and Teaching Scotland have conducted the application process and negotiated a start date of 19 September 2005 with the preferred candidate.

Education

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum maintenance requirements are for school playing fields.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not set maintenance requirements for school playing fields. Management and maintenance of the school estate, including school playing fields, are matters for local authorities.

Education

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to encourage greater community use of school sporting facilities.

Peter Peacock: The Executive encourages the fullest possible use of all local authority resources, including school sporting facilities. It is though for authorities and schools to consider how best to encourage such community use. In Building our Future: Scotland’s School Estate , published jointly in 2003 by the Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, there was clear commitment to providing better services to local communities through the modernisation of the school estate.

Education

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many school playing fields have been sold to private developers, excluding public private partnerships, in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many school playing fields have been sold by public private partnerships, broken down by local authority area.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not collect information on the sale of such local authority fields.

Education

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any dialogue with public private partnerships (PPP) in relation to pricing policies for the use of school sports facilities.

Peter Peacock: It is for the local authority, as procuring authority in a schools PPP project, to set out its requirements regarding all aspects of community use of school facilities. The details are for agreement between the authority and the PPP service provider. The Scottish Schools Standard PPP Contract highlights the need to ensure that these matters are considered and agreed.

Food Hygiene

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the introduction of the EU hygiene package on 1 January 2006 will have on low-throughput abattoirs currently benefiting from lower hygiene and inspection costs following implementation of the Maclean Group recommendations.

Rhona Brankin: The introduction of the new EU Food Hygiene Regulations on 1 January 2006 will have no impact on the hygiene and inspection costs for these abattoirs.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive whether any Bt10 maize or other illegal genetically modified organisms have been imported into Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: Neither the Scottish Executive nor the Food Standards Agency, which is the UK competent authority for GM food and feeds, has been alerted to any Bt10 or other illegal genetically modified organisms being imported into Scotland.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Bt10 maize or other illegal genetically modified organisms have entered the food chain in Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: Neither the Scottish Executive nor the Food Standards Agency, which is the UK competent authority for GM foods and feeds, is aware that Bt10 or any other illegally genetically modified organisms has entered the food chain in Scotland either through importation or cultivation.

Health

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the results from the Link Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme which is investigating whether public health is at risk from mobile telephone masts and transmitters.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme was set up by Government in 2001 as a direct consequence of the publication of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones report Mobile Phones and Health in 2000.

  The programme has funding of over £7 million, jointly from Government and industry, for a number of individual studies into potential health effects of mobile phone technology. The Scottish Executive is contributing £150,000 over the lifetime of the programme. A number of these studies have been completed and results have been published in various reports and scientific papers. We expect the majority of the research funded under the programme to be complete by summer 2006. Further information on the programme, including current research and the results of completed research can be accessed on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk.

Higher Education

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent measures have been introduced to widen access to higher education.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to widening access to higher education to all who wish and are able to benefit irrespective of their background or personal circumstances. Widening access is about fairness and social justice and closing the opportunity gap that exists in educational attainment in Scotland.

  Phase 2 of the Higher Education Review published in 2003 contains a commitment that we will work with representative bodies in the sector and the Funding Council to set new sector-wide measures for improving access from the most economically disadvantaged groups. I have recently written to the Chair of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council setting out a basket of measures which I believe will bring a new focus to widening access initiatives and will further demonstrate commitment to this agenda. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 36727).

  The measures are intended to increase the proportion of people from disadvantaged areas participating in higher education. I expect there to be year on year improvement.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to help people with mental health problems overcome any stigma and discrimination that they face in finding and maintaining employment.

Rhona Brankin: The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being leads the Scottish Executive’s work on the promotion of public mental health and improving the quality of life of those experiencing mental illness. As part of this work, employment and working life is one of six priority areas identified for action. The National Programme has commissioned research into Employment and Mental Health in Scotland to help inform policy and practice in this area. This is due to be published this year and forms part of the Scottish Executive’s work on Employability and Healthy Working Lives.

  The "See Me" anti-stigma campaign works to address public attitudes to mental ill-health "See Me" has a dedicated strand of activity, launched in 2004, specifically aimed at the workplace. There was an encouraging response from employers, particularly in the public sector. This work aims to help overcome stigma and discrimination in finding and maintaining employment.

  The national programme also funds a dedicated mental health programme within Scotland’s Health At Work (SHAW). This builds capacity to support the delivery of sustainable workplace training initiatives aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination amongst the general workforce and specifically targeting attitudes and behaviours of line managers, occupational health and human resources personnel. This training programme is complemented by Scottish Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) Training, provided by NHS Health Scotland and funded by the national programme. SMHFA is available to the general public as well as to individuals representing specific organisations. Instructors have been trained from Job Centre Plus, NHS Greater Glasgow and NHS Forth Valley, to deliver training to employees. SMHFA is being formally launched 20 June 2005.

Mobile Phones

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone mast applications by mobile phone operators were (a) made, (b) granted, (c) refused, (d) granted on appeal and (e) refused on the grounds of health and safety and what the average time was for an application to be processed in 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Table 1 shows information on planning applications for radio telecommunications infrastructure, including ground based masts, additional antennas, roof based masts and equipment housing. The figures show for each planning authority the number of planning applications received during the period, the numbers granted permission, the numbers refused permission, the numbers refused permission on grounds relating to health and safety and the average time taken to determine planning applications. The figures for upheld appeals are taken from the Scottish Executive’s records.

  Completion of the returns by planning authorities is voluntary, and there are therefore gaps in the returns. It should also be noted that where the number of grants/refusals of permission are higher than the number of applications received during the year this is due to the carrying over of applications from previous periods. Similarly, appeal decisions may relate to applications from an earlier period.

  Telecommunications Data 2004 - For the period 1 January 2004 to 30 September 2004

  (Please note that figures are only available for the first nine months of the year).

  

 Table 1
 Applications Made
 Granted
 Refused
 Granted on Appeal
 Refused on Health and Safety Grounds
 Average Time Taken to Determine (Days)


 Aberdeen City 
 15
 12
 3
 
 
 53


 Aberdeenshire*
 20
 22
 1
 
 
 58


 Angus
 17
 11
 4
 2
 
 61


 Argyll and Bute
 32
 26
 0
 
 
 53


 Clackmannanshire
 4
 3
 1
 
 
 66


 Dumfries and Galloway*
 9
 4
 1
 
 
 49


 Dundee City 
 21
 5
 2
 1
 #
 81


 East Ayrshire
 9
 6
 1
 
 
 72


 East Dunbartonshire*
 10
 5
 0
 
 
 69


 East Lothian 
 22
 7
 3
 
 
 60


 East Renfrewshire 
 5
 1
 2
 1
 
 34


 Edinburgh 
 60
 57
 12
 
 
 66


 Eilean Siar
 11
 9
 0
 
 
 53


 Falkirk*
 12
 2
 0
 
 
 35


 Fife 
 49
 25
 7
 
 
 98


 Glasgow City*
 86
 
 
 1
 
 


 Highland 
 26
 23
 2
 1
 
 80


 Inverclyde
 14
 7
 0
 
 
 43


 Midlothian 
 4
 7
 0
 1
 
 75


 Moray
 11
 14
 0
 
 
 89


 North Ayrshire*
 
 
 
 
 
 


 North Lanarkshire*
 8
 7
 0
 
 
 91


 Orkney*
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Perth and Kinross
 18
 13
 2
 
 
 76


 Renfrewshire
 19
 19
 1
 
 
 72


 Scottish Borders
 14
 12
 0
 
 
 53


 Shetland
 2
 2
 0
 
 
 76


 South Ayrshire*
 4
 3
 0
 
 
 38


 South Lanarkshire*
 26
 31
 0
 
 
 55


 Stirling 
 7
 7
 1
 
 
 70


 West Dunbartonshire*
 5
 3
 0
 2
 
 26


 West Lothian 
 14
 15
 0
 
 
 63



  Notes:

  *Missing/incomplete return.

  #-On one application reasons for refusal were not provided. However, under the heading "Any further comments or observations" it was noted that the application was subject to a number of objections on health grounds.

NHS Equipment

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Health and Community Care has met the Patients Industry Professional Forum to discuss future arrangements for the supply of stoma devices and, if not, whether he will arrange a meeting.

Rhona Brankin: No. However, my officials have met recently with representatives of patients, stoma nurses and appliance suppliers, including representatives of the Patients Industry Professional Forum to discuss the future arrangements for stoma appliances. Officials are continuing to work with these stakeholders in the development and implementation of the new supply arrangements, and representatives are being sought for the National Steering Group which has been established. In addition, the Patients Industry Professionals Forum has agreed to assist officials by setting up a group to consider suitable future service standards.

NHS Funding

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much, and by what percentage, each NHS board budget increased in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) per capita and what the cumulative increase was over this period.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details are as follows:

  

 NHS Board
 2000-01 Total Budget Increase (£000)
2000-01 Total Budget Increase(%)
2000-01 Per Capita Increase(£)
 2000-01 Per Capita Increase (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 29,208
 7.3
 74
 7.8


 Ayrshire and Arran
 26,734
 7.8
 75
 8.2


 Borders
 5,698
 5.6
 49
 5.1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,777
 3.9
 47
 4.6


 Fife
 22,189
 7.4
 60
 7.1


 Forth Valley
 20,888
 8.6
 74
 8.4


 Grampian
 32,505
 7.1
 65
 7.5


 Greater Glasgow
 61,779
 6.8
 70
 7.0


 Highland
 15,383
 7.8
 74
 7.8


 Lanarkshire
 35,695
 7.5
 64
 7.5


 Lothian
 48,377
 7.1
 56
 6.4


 Orkney
 948
 4.4
 55
 5.1


 Shetland
 1,854
 7.5
 97
 8.9


 Tayside
 28,894
 7.3
 82
 8.1


 Western Isles
 2,888
 7.8
 125
 9.3


 Total
 338,817
 7.2
 67
 7.3



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 5.1% in initial unified budget. Total budget increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

 NHS Board
 2001-02 Total Budget Increase (£000)
2001-02 Total Budget Increase(%)
2001-02 Per Capita Increase(£)
 2001-02 Per Capita Increase (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 25,190
 5.9
 67
 6.6


 Ayrshire and Arran
 19,198
 5.2
 66
 6.7


 Borders
 4,443
 4.2
 41
 4.1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 8,708
 5.7
 45
 4.2


 Fife
 14,255
 4.5
 43
 4.7


 Forth Valley
 11,762
 4.4
 38
 4.0


 Grampian
 14,945
 3.1
 24
 2.6


 Greater Glasgow
 62,294
 6.4
 117
 10.8


 Highland
 17,837
 8.4
 84
 8.2


 Lanarkshire
 40,983
 8.0
 89
 9.7


 Lothian
 42,268
 5.8
 60
 6.4


 Orkney
 2,123
 9.5
 126
 11.0


 Shetland
 1,603
 6.0
 99
 8.3


 Tayside
 33,524
 7.9
 77
 7.0


 Western Isles
 4,078
 10.2
 195
 13.3


 Total
 303,211
 6.0
 70
 7.0



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 5.5% in initial unified budget. Total budget increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

 NHS Board
2002-03Total Budget Increase(£000)
2002-03Total Budget Increase(%)
2002-03Per Capita Increase(£)
2002-03Per Capita Increase(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 22,421
 4.9
 59
 5.4


 Ayrshire and Arran
 26,260
 6.8
 75
 7.1


 Borders
 6,301
 5.7
 54
 5.2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 10,762
 6.6
 77
 7.0


 Fife
 19,501
 5.8
 53
 5.6


 Forth Valley
 18,361
 6.6
 65
 6.6


 Grampian
 36,112
 7.2
 74
 7.7


 Greater Glasgow
 83,256
 8.0
 99
 8.3


 Highland
 15,864
 6.9
 80
 7.3


 Lanarkshire
 19,657
 3.5
 36
 3.6


 Lothian
 3,135
 0.4
 4
 0.4


 Orkney
 1,198
 4.9
 63
 4.9


 Shetland
 2,735
 9.7
 126
 9.8


 Tayside
 14,827
 3.2
 42
 3.6


 Western Isles
 2,646
 6.0
 117
 7.0


 Total
 283,036
 5.3
 58
 5.5



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 6.8% in initial unified budget. Total budget increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

 NHS Board
2003-04Total Budget Increase(£000)
2003-04Total Budget Increase(%)
2003-04Per Capita Increase(£)
2003-04Per Capita Increase(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 32,803
 6.9
 83
 7.3


 Ayrshire and Arran
 33,080
 8.0
 90
 8.0


 Borders
 9,381
 8.0
 78
 7.1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 11,927
 6.9
 82
 7.0


 Fife
 29,043
 8.2
 79
 7.8


 Forth Valley
 18,037
 6.1
 63
 6.0


 Grampian
 37,761
 7.0
 72
 7.0


 Greater Glasgow
 57,965
 5.2
 66
 5.1


 Highland
 19,794
 8.0
 89
 7.5


 Lanarkshire
 50,008
 8.7
 89
 8.6


 Lothian
 97,395
 12.6
 124
 12.4


 Orkney
 1,337
 5.2
 62
 4.7


 Shetland
 2,334
 7.5
 111
 7.9


 Tayside
 22,156
 4.7
 60
 4.9


 Western Isles
 3,750
 8.1
 150
 8.5


 Total
 426,771
 7.5
 84
 7.5



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 7.4% in initial unified budget. Total budget increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

 NHS Board
2004-05Total Budget Increase(£000)
2004-05Total Budget Increase(%)
2004-05Per Capita Increase(£)
2004-05Per Capita Increase(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 61,607
 12.1
 152
 12.5


 Ayrshire and Arran
 62,306
 14.0
 168
 13.8


 Borders
 18,253
 14.4
 156
 13.3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 24,586
 13.3
 160
 12.7


 Fife
 52,770
 13.8
 141
 13.0


 Forth Valley
 35,318
 11.3
 117
 10.5


 Grampian
 50,143
 8.7
 94
 8.6


 Greater Glasgow
 130,920
 11.1
 150
 11.0


 Highland
 40,636
 15.2
 179
 14.0


 Lanarkshire
 72,482
 11.6
 125
 11.1


 Lothian
 71,366
 8.2
 80
 7.2


 Orkney
 3,763
 13.9
 179
 12.8


 Shetland
 2,383
 7.2
 104
 6.8


 Tayside
 55,103
 11.1
 138
 10.7


 Western Isles
 4,263
 8.5
 151
 7.8


 Total
 685,899
 11.3
 130
 10.8



  Note: All boards received a minimum annual increase of 6.75% in initial unified budget. Total budget increases shown include funds relating to recurring and non-recurring allocations. Annual comparisons are, therefore, not necessarily comparing like with like.

  

 Health Board
2000-01 to2004-05 BudgetIncrease (£000)
2000-01 to 2004-05 BudgetIncrease (%)
2000-01 to2004-05 PerCapitaIncrease (£)
2000-01 to2004-05 PerCapitaIncrease (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 171,229
 42.8
 434
 46.2


 Ayrshire and Arran
 167,578
 49.2
 473
 52.0


 Borders
 44,076
 43.5
 378
 39.8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 61,760
 41.7
 410
 40.6


 Fife
 137,758
 46.2
 376
 44.0


 Forth Valley
 104,366
 42.8
 357
 40.7


 Grampian
 171,466
 37.6
 329
 38.0


 Greater Glasgow
 396,214
 43.5
 502
 49.9


 Highland
 109,514
 55.4
 506
 53.3


 Lanarkshire
 218,825
 45.8
 403
 47.5


 Lothian
 262,541
 38.5
 323
 37.0


 Orkney
 9,369
 43.7
 486
 44.5


 Shetland
 10,909
 44.0
 537
 49.3


 Tayside
 154,504
 39.0
 399
 39.1


 Western Isles
 17,625
 47.8
 737
 55.1


 Total
 2,037,734
 43.0
 409
 44.2



  Note:

  1. Total budget includes recurring and non-recurring Hospital and Community Health revenue allocations and demand led Family Health Services expenditure/indicative allocation.

  2. Per capita has been calculated using the mid year estimates of population for each year.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all meetings and consultations about the future of the NHS that it has had with the private health care sector, including the names of organisations and individuals involved.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive have had no meetings or discussions with the independent health care sector about the future of the NHS. The National Waiting Times Unit has had meetings and discussions with a number of independent health care providers about possible additional capacity which could be available to assist in reducing waiting times for NHSScotland patients. I also met with a number of representatives from independent health care organisations in November 2004, to discuss what kind of solutions might be possible for future partnerships with the NHS. A list of providers who have been involved in discussions is set out in the following table. Please note that names of individuals cannot be released at this time due to data protection requirements.

  

 Abbey Caldew Hospital
 Carlisle, Cumbria


 Abbey Carrick Glen Hospital
 Ayr 


 Abbey Kings Park Hospital
 Stirling


 ACE Ltd
 Glasgow


 Alliance Medical
 Oxon


 BMI Fernbrae Hospital
 Dundee


 BMI Ross Hall Hospital
 Glasgow


 BMI Albyn Hospital
 Aberdeen


 BUPA Murrayfield Hospital
 Edinburgh


 Capio Healthcare
 London


 Care UK Afrox Health care Ltd
 Essex


 Edinburgh Cataract Services
 Edinburgh


 Expert Eye
 Edinburgh


 Fortis Healthcare
 India


 General Healthcare Group Ltd
 Staffordshire


 Glasgow Nuffield Hospital
 Glasgow


 Medinet
 Sutton Coldfield


 Nations Healthcare Ltd
 London


 Newcastle Nuffield Hospital
 Newcastle Upon Tyne


 Netcare
 London


 New York Presbyterian Hospital
 USA


 SA Medics
 South Africa


 SRL-Ranbaxy
 India


 Transmedica
 Denmark


 UK Specialist Hospitals
 London


 Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd
 Bristol


 Woodlands Hospital
 Darlington

Nutrition

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the successful pilot study and publication in November 2001 of Report on Nutrition in the Elderly Study , it intends to collect and publish statistics on the nutritional status of the patients in continuing and long-term care using the renamed Scottish Health Resource Utilisation Groups’ (SHRUGS) data, particularly in relation to the effect of feeding difficulties on body mass index.

Rhona Brankin: The report showed that it was feasible to gather information on Body Mass Index (BMI) status from long-stay wards, alongside the SHRUGs interviews carried out by ISD once a year. The limitations inherent in using this annual snapshot approach to measure BMI, however, were such that the Scottish Executive concluded that the method proposed should not be supported.

  The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland clinical standards for Food, Fluid and Nutritional Care require that when a person is admitted to hospital, a nutritional assessment is carried out; that screening including BMI for risk of under nutrition is undertaken, both on admission and on an on-going basis, and that a care plan which includes BMI measures is implemented.

  They also state that the nurse with responsibility for the ward is responsible for having in place a protocol which ensures that staff assist and support patients as required. It is the charge nurse’s responsibility to monitor the patient’s intake of food and fluid, and to ensure that necessary action is taken if this is inadequate.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-7558 and S2W-16514 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 May 2004 and 24 May 2005, what the net present value will be of VAT payments to be made in relation to the contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd for the escort of prisoners, shown in figures comparable to those in the answer to S2W-7558.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  No such calculation has been made because the net cost to SPS is nil as the VAT is fully recoverable.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15434 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005, what costs have been incurred by the Scottish Prison Service for visits to HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether staff turnover figures for HM Prison Kilmarnock are supplied to HM Chief Inspector of Prisons or to the Scottish Prison Service controllers based in HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the staff turnover figures for HM Prison Kilmarnock for each of the last six years.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the turnover of staff employed at the health centre at HM Prison Kilmarnock has been in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer to S1W-9042 on 24 August 2000. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15194 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005, what conclusions have been reached by the investigation into the allegations regarding HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The company have not yet indicated to SPS that they have reached conclusions.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what access Scottish Prison Service controllers, based in HM Prison Kilmarnock, have to information relating to the operation of the prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Matters concerning the Controller are in Clause 28, Part V of the contract which is published on the Scottish Prison Service website at www.sps.gov.uk and is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15572 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2005, how many officers of HM Prison Kilmarnock have been dismissed for disciplinary offences in each of the last five years.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from Premier Prison Services Ltd in the last five years relating to the dismissal of Premier prison officers for disciplinary offences.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS does not hold such information, which is a matter for the company.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what notifications it has given, pursuant to paragraph 29.2 of Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock, to allow "any other person" reasonable access to HM Prison Kilmarnock, showing the (a) dates of notification, (b) names of the individuals concerned and (c) purpose of each visit.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  None.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its financial incentives provide adequate support to the marine renewable energy industry, given a reported decision by Scottish Power and Amec to scale back or abandon plans to build a wave farm in Orkney, citing lack of government support as the reason for this decision.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have provided extensive support to the sector in recent years, particularly through our contribution of £3 million towards the world class marine energy test centre on Orkney, and our engagement through FREDS. We are currently considering how it might be possible to further assist the sector.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of plans by Scottish Power and AMEC to develop a commercial wave energy scheme in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: I am aware of these plans, which are at a very early stage of development.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the Scottish Power and AMEC proposal for a commercial wave energy scheme in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have had no involvement with this project thus far.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that Scottish Power and AMEC are considering abandoning the proposal to develop a commercial wave energy scheme and, if so, what action it has taken to intervene.

Mr Jim Wallace: I understand that Scottish Power and their partners are considering how best to proceed with the next phase of their wave energy project. The Executive has not thus far been formally approached regarding this project, which is a commercial venture between the companies concerned.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the call by companies interested in wave energy investment to double the Renewables Obligation Certificate payments.

Mr Jim Wallace: Our preliminary consultation on the review of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) is still on-going. The consultation raises for discussion the use of Renewable Obligation Certificates to support the development of emerging technologies, including wave and tidal. We have so far received only a small number of responses to that consultation, although we continue to speak directly to stakeholders and will consider very carefully all views on this subject. A further announcement on the way ahead will follow during the summer.

Schools

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of the Education (Publication and Consultation etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981, what the (a) definition and (b) interpretation is of (i) a change of site for a school, (ii) a new school and (iii) delineation of an area and which of the regulations in Schedule 1 relate to modernisation of a school where the site of that school is being relocated to grounds owned by it or the local authority but which are separated by a main road.

Peter Peacock: "Change of site" and "new school" are not defined in the Regulations. "Delineated area" is defined in the regulations as "that part of the area of an education authority from which pupils resident therein will be admitted to the school in terms of any priority based on residence in accordance with the guidelines formulated under section 28B(1)(c) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980".

  It is for education authorities to reach a view on the applicability of the regulations in the particular circumstances of any proposal they are making. The interpretation of statute is ultimately a matter for the courts rather than the Scottish Executive.

Telecommunications

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied when considering the placement of mobile phone masts in residential areas.

Malcolm Chisholm: It would be for the planning authority to consider a planning application for a mobile phone mast in accordance with any relevant development plan policy and in light of any other material considerations. The Executive’s guidance on dealing with planning applications for mobile phone masts is contained in National Planning Policy Guideline 19 and Planning Advice Note 62, both entitled "Radio Telecommunications". These documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, (Bib. numbers 15218 and 16043 respectively).

Telecommunications

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to protect the public from any possible health risks from the placement of masts used by the telecommunications industry in residential areas.

Malcolm Chisholm: The UK Government and the Executive adopted precautionary measures in light of the recommendations in the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones published in 2000. Further details are contained in National Planning Policy Guideline 19: Radio Telecommunications . These documents are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 6703 and 15218 respectively).

Telecommunications

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the precautionary principle promoted in government guidelines is being adhered to in the consideration of requests by telecommunication operators to erect mobile phone masts.

Malcolm Chisholm: The precautionary measures set out in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG)19: Radio Telecommunications for the most part do not relate to the consideration of individual applications for masts. So, for example, the audit of phone mast emissions is carried out by OFCOM, as is the maintenance of a database of mast sites, and is not tied to individual applications. Similarly, the Executive contributes to the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme recommended by the Independent Expert Group and Mobile Phones. We do of course require planning applications to be accompanied by a declaration relating to compliance with the public exposure guidelines on radio frequency emissions issued by the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection, which were adopted as one of the precautionary measures, and policing of this is a matter for individual planning authorities.

  We have already carried out a research project on the effects of the changes to planning legislation and guidance, including the introduction of NPPG 19 and Planning Advice Note (PAN) 62: Radio Telecommunications. This research (entitled Evaluation of Revised Planning Controls Over Telecommunications Development) was published in July 2004. We will also review the planning guidance, which we provisionally intend to do later next year. In the meantime we do monitor correspondence on these issues and have contacts with planning authorities, the industry and other Government Departments on the issues surrounding the rollout of this technology.

  Copies of the documents mentioned in this reply are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (NPPG 19 Bib. number 15218, PAN 62 Bib. number 16043. and Research Bib. number 6703).

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on CruiseScotland; whether it is still trading and what the extent is of any outstanding debt, and what the Executive’s strategy is for promoting Scotland as a cruise liner destination.

Patricia Ferguson: CruiseScotland is still trading and has debts of around £7,000. It is currently in negotiations with Forth Ports plc to re-establish itself on a new basis, albeit under the same name. Under such a new format, CruiseScotland would be based on private sector membership, and would be able to access VisitScotland Challenge Funding.

  VisitScotland recognises that the cruise liner market brings a significant number of visitors to particular areas of Scotland. It will, therefore, work with CruiseScotland if there is an opportunity to develop products aimed at passengers while they are disembarked.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Freedom of Information

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what costs it has incurred in providing information in response to freedom of information (FOI) requests.

Robert Brown (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): Since 1 January 2005 parliamentary staff have received 167 freedom of information requests which have taken 1,429.19 hours of staff time to complete.

  Using a £20 average hourly rate, we estimate that the SPCB has spent approximately £28,500 on handling FOI requests to date. This cost does not include overheads such as photocopying, printing and postal charges or the provision of legal advice, figures for which are not available.